Transformer lamination interleaver



Oct. 25, 1966 H. s. CLARK 3,280,453

TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER Filed 001;. 9, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1966 H. s. CLARK TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER m m llm nlwll.

INVENTOR. HARRY 5'. CLARK,

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'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY I 0 Dew/7&1? q" flan/LL49 ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 9, 1964 Oct. 25, 1966 H. s. CLARK TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001:. 9, 1964 lvh MB NB INVENTOR.

HARRY S. CLARK ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1966 H. S. CLARK TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARRY 8. CLARK hon ..NAE 5N mum N E! Filed Oct. 9,- 1964 ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1966 H. s. CLARK TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER 7 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed Oct. 9, 1964 I NV ENTOR.

K R A L c v/ R M H ATTORNEYS d- 1966 H- s. CLARK 3,280,453

TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER Filed Oct. 9, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I 30l III 2 I 52 53 INVENTOR.

HARP Y 5. C L A RK ATTORNEYS 1966 H. s. CLARK TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER 7 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Oct. 9, 1964 INVENTOR. HARRY 5. CL ARK BY ammz aflmdg 1 lnltll llll'lllll ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,280,453 TRANSFORMER LAMINATION INTERLEAVER Harry S. Clark, Rte. 3, Delaware, Ohio Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,839 26 Claims. (Cl. 29203) This invention relates generally as indicated to a transformer lamination interleaver and more particularly to a method and apparatus for assembling automatically the laminations of transformers or other electromagnetic induction apparatus either interleaved or butt stacked.

The present invention is particularly applicable to the automatic assembly in interleaved fashion of E and I plates in a transformer coil, but it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to any specific type of configuration of lamination or plate or for that matter to any particular type of electromagnetic induction apparatus.

As an example, hand interleaving of the E and I plates in a certain size transformer may take approximately 12 minutes while it can be done automatically by machine in approximately 35 seconds. However, automatic machines presently available are subject to several important faults which the present invention is designed to overcome. For example, so-called automatic laminating machines are subject to approximately 40% down-time which is caused by a variety of reasons thus impairing the efficiency of the automatic operation. One of the major reasons for the excessive amount of down-time is the height or amount of the punchings or parts that can be carried in the magazines of the machine. It will be appreciated that the higher the stack in the magazine, the greater the weight, and accordingly more difliculty will be encountered in feeding the parts one-at-a-time from the bottom thereof. Also, the shorter the stack that the machine can carry, the more attention of the operator is required to replace continually the punchings in the magazine. If the operator is replacing coils in the machine at approximately every 35 or 40 seconds, it can be seen that he will be kept quite busy also replacing the punchings in the magazines, since most machines of this type carry four such magazines, two on each side of the coil.

Presently commercially available interleaving machines generally require hand finishing of the coil in that they cannot load or completely fill a coil, but must leave approximately of an inch to be hand finished. This hand finishing may be accomplished by wooden Wedges for less precise transformers such as those used in toy trains, etc. However, transformers or like apparatus used in computers, television sets, or for military specifications require to be completely filled and accordingly the operator or someone else must then manually hand fill the last /8 inch or so of the coil thus lengthening the amount of time required properly tofill the coil.

Most machines presently available require a substantial amount of down-time to change over from one size coil to another since entire magazines must usually be replaced. In fact, most machines today are limited solely to one size and accordingly a different machine must be employed for assembling the plates or punchings for each particular size made. The ideal machine should be completely adjustable both for size of the punching as well as thickness thereof.

The punchings or plates used in the laminating of transformers and the like are stamped, then oxidized. The temperature of the punching is generally brought up under controlled conditions. This process, however, may deform the punching or laminate slightly and if deformed,

it may not go through the stacking machine. Furthermore, some punchi-ngs are slightly burred as the result of 3,280,453 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 the punching operation and this too may alfect the ability of the stacking machine to perform without jamming. Also, the so-called automatic machines may jamb if the coil form does not have the proper opening therein. If one wall of the coil is interiorly bowed slightly, the machine may be jambed or stopped since the coil may interfere with the plates being stacked therein.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a machine which will automatically assemble in either butt stacked or interleaved fashion plates or punchings of different configurations into a coil in the production of electromagnetic induction apparatus.

It is a further principal object to provide such a machine which is subject to little down-time and does not require the constant attention of the operator.

Yet another principal object is the provision of such a machine which can operate in a completely automatic manner while carrying a greater height of parts in the magazines thereof.

Another object is the provision of a transformer lamination interleaver which will completely fill the coils not requiring a subsequent hand finishing operation.

Still another object is the provision of a transformer lamination interleaver which is readily adjustable to accommodate laminations or plates of both different sizes and thicknesses.

Yet another object is the provision of an automatic transformer lamination interleaver in which deformed, bowed or slightly bent plates or plates having burrs thereon will not affect within reason the essentially automatic operation of the machine.

A yet further object is the provision of a transformer lamination interleaver incorporating a unique stack buildup mechanism within the coil so that deformations in the coil form will not stop the operation of the machine.

A still further object is the provision of a gate mechanism at the bottom of the E plate magazine which will ensure that only one B plate is dispensed at a time during the required portion of the cycle of the machine.

It is also an object to provide a machine having the above automatic characteristics which is yet simple in construction and provided with special carbide wear points to provide a long and durable life for the machine.

Also it is an object to provide a machine for dispensing the E and I plates for proper placement into the coil in an automatic fashion which may obtain, for example, speeds up to 250 layers per minute.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2a is an enlarged top plan view of the machine partially broken away;

FIG, 2b is a broken continuation of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged side elevation partially broken away and in section corresponding to FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3b is an enlarged elevation partially broken away and in section corresponding to FIG. 2b and taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGS. 2a and 21);

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

3 8 FIG. is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the center of the coil holding mechanism substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation as seen from the left in FIGS. 2:: and 3a of one of the part holding magazines taken substantially from the line 77 of FIG. 1; and

FIG, 8 is an enlarged side elevation of such magazine taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7'.

Referring now to the annexed drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the illustrated machine embodiment of the present invention may be supported on a stand 1 fabricated from steel tubing which includes an upper support frame 2, legs 3 and 4, and lower horizontal shelf 5 supporting drive motor 6 connected through coupling 7 to speed reducer 8 which is also mounted on the shelf 5.

A common support plate 9 may be provided for both the motor 6 and speed reducer 8. The speed reducer 8 is provided with an output shaft 10 having sprocket 11 thereon about which is. trained a drive chain 12 which extends also about sprocket 14.

The sprocket 14 is mounted on a crankshaft 15 journalled in suitable bearings in crankshaft supports 17 which may be pendently supported from the machine base 18 mounted on the top frame 2 of the stand 1. The crankshaft 15 has mounted thereon a drive crank 19, the distal end of which is pivotally connected at 20 to connecting rod 21 which drives the machine as hereinafter described.

Also mounted within the stand 1 is an electrical junction box 24 to which is connected the control console 25 which may include a motor speed selector switch 26, stop and start buttons 27 and 28, respectively, a run and jog switch 29, and a master switch 30. Additional controls may, of course, be provided depending upon the accessories with which the machine may be equipped.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2a and 2b, and 3a and 3b, it will be seen that the machine base 18, which may be an iron casting, having a peripheral down-turned flange 32, is provided with four carriage roller rails 33, 34, on one side of the machine, and 35, 36 on the opposite or right-hand side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. As seen more clearly in FIG. 5., the rails each comprise top and bottom members 37 and 38 separated by intermediate members 39 with fasteners 40 extending through all three members to hold the rail on the base 18. The top and bottom members form with the intermediate members inwardly directed channels which support and confine carriage rollers 42, two being provided within each rail channel. Such rollers are journalled on studs projecting outwardly from downwardly projecting pairs of legs 43 provided on carriages 45 and 46. The carriages 45 and 46 carry the lamination or part pick-offs as well as transfer pushers for transferring the parts from the magazines to the coil positioned in the center of the machine. The carriages 45 and 46 include downwardly projecting tongues 47 and 48, respecively, which project through slots 49 and 50 in the top of the machine base 18.

As seen more clearly in FIG. 5, carriage tie bars 52 and 53 are secured to opposite sides of the tongues 47 and 48 by suitable fasteners 54, thus structurally connecting the carriages 45 and 46 for synchronous movement. The carriage tie bars 52 and 53 at the side of the machine opposite the sprocket 14, or the right-hand side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 3a and 3b, are pivotally secured at 56 to the end 57 of the connecting rod 21. It can now be seen that the drive motor 6 rotating the sprocket 14 through the speed reducer 8 will cause the carriages 45 and 46 to move back and forth in synchronism along the aligned paths provided by the rails 33 and 34, 35 and 36. The crank 19 converts the rotary motion of the sprocket 14 into a linear reciprocating motion of the carriages 45 and 46 and in the process, it will be seen that the acceleration of the carriages in their linear reciprocatory path is in the form of a sinusoidal curve. In other words, the carriages move at a maximum velocity at approximately the midpoint of one reciprocatory stroke.

As seen in FIG. 5, the carriage tie bars 52 and 53 project beneath the top of the top frame 2 of the stand 1 and the machine base 18 is not quite as wide as the stand top 2. Stand covers 66 and 61 may be provided on top of the frame 2 adjacent the machine base to provide a work table on each side of the machine.

Referring now to FIG. 315, it will be seen that the carriage 46 includes at its outer end an E plate pick-oif adjustment block 64 which holds a carbide insert 65 which may be termed the E plate pick-01f pusher. The pusher 65 includes a shoulder 66 and a ramp 67 leading up thereto, which may be tool steel. The shoulder 66 between the ramp 67 and the carbide pusher 65 may be gauged to the thickness of the E plate to be fed into the coil. The ramp 67 may be secured to the block 64 from the bottom by means of fasteners 68 and a fastener 69 recessed within the carbide pick-off pusher 65 secures the pusher removably to the block 64. The block 64 is adjustably secured within a shallow channel 70 in the projecting portion 71 of the carriage 46 by a cap screw or like fastener 72 projecting through elongated slot 73 in the block 64. An adjustment index pin or locator 74 may be positioned in one of three holes 75 in the block 64 and in hole 76 in the projecting portion 71 of the carriage 46. In this manner, the position of the block 64 on the carriage can be adjusted by loosening the cap screw 72, removing the locating pin 74, moving the block 64 and then relocating the pin 74 in one of the holes 75. The carriage 45' at the opposite end of the machine is also provided with a block 64 and E plate pick-off pusher 65 which is identical in form both in construction and adjustability to that illustrated in FIG. 312.

Also mounted on each of the carriages 45 and 46 are pairs of transfer pushers 77, 78 and 79, 80, respectively. These pushers are in the form of upstanding plates having the profile configuration shown more clearly in FIGS. 3a and 3b and are secured by suitable fasteners 81 to the sides of adjustable support blocks 83 and 84 mounted on the inner ends of the carriages 45 and 46, respectively,

by screws 85 and 86 extending through slots 87 and 88, respectively, at the opposite ends of each support block. Index pins 89 may be mounted in a plurality of index pin holes 90 to facilitate the proper adjustment of the blocks 83 and 84 on the inner end of each carriage.

Mounted to the outside or rear of each pusher plate are escapement plates 92, 93 and 94, 95. Again the escapernent plates maybe secured to, the sides of the adjustment blocks by fasteners 96 and have the profile configuration shown more clearly in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3b, each of the pusher plates 77 through 80 includes a leading vertical pushing surface 98 which projects substantially in front of the support block therefor. The upper surface 99 of the pusher plates is provided at its rear or outer end with a recess 100, which is closed by the upstanding leading edge 101 of the escapement plates 92-95. Thus the escapement plates project slightly above the pusher plates and each escapement plate is provided with a pocket 102 having a leading hook edge 103. The pocket 102 also has a rear pushing surface 104. The outer end of each escape plate terminates in a ramp 105.

It can now be seen that each carriage is comprised of front and rear sections with the front sections being made up of the vertically extending transfer pusher plates 77 through 80 with the escapement plates, 92 through 95, respectively, being positioned rearwardly adjacent the pusher plates. Both the pusher and escapement plates are secured to the sides of the adjustable support blocks 83 and 84 which can readily be adjusted and repositioned by means of the screw and slot connection with the carriage. The adjustment index pin and three holes locate the block so as to accommodate at least three different sizes of E and I plates.

At the rear or outside of each carriage, there is provided the E pick-off adjustment block 64 adjustably held to the carriage by the screw and slot connection 72, 73 with index pin 74 being provided to align the proper aperture 75 in the block with the aperture in the carriage. In this manner, the blocks 64 may also be adjusted quite quickly for different size E plates. The blocks 64 carry the E pusher ramps 67 which lead up to the leading edge or shoulder 66 of the carbide insert 65 engaged to remove one E plate at a time from the magazine.

The E and I plates, illustrated in phantom outline in FIGS. 2a and 2b, as well as in FIGS. 3a and 3b, are stacked or mounted in magazine chambers 108, 109, 110 and 111, reading from left to right in FIGS. 3a and 3b with the outermost chambers 108 and 111 accommodating the stacked E plates with the legs of the E inwardly directed and the inner most chambers 109 and 110 accommodating the I plates.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b and additionally to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, there is provided four adjustable magazine sides 112, 113, 114 and 115 which are mounted on the machine base 18. The magazine side 112 is identical to the magazine side 115 and the magazine side 114 is identical to the magazine side 113. The magazine sides 112 and 113 on the left side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 2a are allochirally identical in form and similarly the magazine sides 114 and 115 on the right side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 2b are allochirally identical in form. The magazine sides may be of cast iron and form adjustable sides for the E and I plates on each side of the center of the machine.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 8, it will be seen that the adjustable magazine side 112 comprises a bottom or horizontal flange 117 which includes a recess 118. The recess 118 thus renders the horizontal flange 117 of a U-shape construction and slots 119 and 120 are provided in each leg of the flange with screws 121 and 122, extending through such slots, respectively. Adjustment index pins 123 and 124 may be provided insertable into a series of apertures 125 and 126, respectively, so that the entire magazine side 112 may be moved in a direction parallel to the slots 119 and 120 with the position being fixed by the index pins 123 and 124 depending upon which aperture is used to receive the pins. As seen in FIG. 8, an adjustment guide key 127 may be provided extending parallel to the slots 119 and 120 facilitating the horizontal adjustment of the magazine side 112.

Continuing reference to FIG. 8, each adjustable magazine side includes an upstanding plate portion 130 which includes an upwardly projecting leg 131 and a horizontally projecting leg 132. A reinforcing web 133 may be provided between the horizontal flange 117 and the upwardly extending leg 131. As seen in FIG. 7, it is noted that the upstanding plate portions 130 of each of the side guides includes an inwardly offset portion as indicated at 134 and 135. Just above the inwardly offset portions, suitable fasteners 136 hold to the inside of each of the adjustable magazine sides a rail or side guide 137. The side guides 137 provide side guiding for both the E and the I laminations as they are transferred from the bottom of each stack into the coil. Supported on the inside of each side guide is a side guide ramp 138 which includes a ramp or inclined surface 139 (see FIG. 3b) which brings the E lamination from a lower dispensing level on guide surface 140 up to the in-feed level 141 of the coil position.

As seen perhaps more clearly in FIGS, 2a and 2b, as as well as in FIGS. 3a and 3b, there is included inwardly projecting fixed vertical ribs 143 and 144 with the former contacting the sides of the outer legs of the E plates with the latter being provided with shoulder 145 engaging the rear corners of the I plates. As seen more clearly in FIGS. 2a and 8, upstanding legs of the side plates of the magazine sides also include horizontally adjustable vertically extending guides 146 and 147 secured to the inside of the upstanding'legs 131 by screws 148 extending through horizontal slots 149 for the adjustable E guides 146 and somewhat shorter slots 150 for the adjustable I guides 147. Adjustment index pins 151 and 152 may be provided at the top and bottom of the horizontally adjustable vertically extending guides to fit within a series of apertures 153 and 154, respectively, so that the vertical guides may be moved horizontally to adjust the spacing and thus the size of the E and I plates which may be accommodated in the magazines.

As seen in FIG. 2a, for example, the vertically ex tending E plate guides 146 are provided with vertically extending shoulders or corners 156 into which fit the rear outside corners of the E plates. The bottom of each of the four E plate guides is provided with a stack support member 157 as seen in FIG. 3b to provide support for the stack of E laminations in the magazine. As seen in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 5, horizontally inwardly projecting shelves 158 are provided at each side of the I plate chambers 109 and 110 projecting from the side guides 137 and the four such I stack supports provide retainers at each end of the I vertically supporting the I stack in the magazine as well as act as a guide for the lowermost I being fed toward the coil in the center of the machine.

It can now be seen that the magazines for the E and I plates are comprised of a pair of adjustable magazine sides which are movable laterally in the machine to accommodate E and I plates of different widths and such adjustable side plates include vertical guides which are adjustable longitudinally of the machine to accommodate E and I plates of different depths.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 5 and 7 through 8, mounted within the recesses 118 in the horizontal flanges of the adjustable magazine sides 112 and 113 are brackets 160 and 161 which include horizontal flanges 162 secured to the base 18 by suitable fasteners 163 within the recess 118 of the horizontal flange 117 of the main adjustable magazine sides 112 and 113. Secured to the upstanding portions of the brackets 160 and 161 are vertically extending E gate supports 164 and 165 which extend parallel to and outside the vertically projecting legs 131 of the magazine sides. The vertically extending E gate supports 164 and 165 carry horizontally extending gate suspension bars 166 and 167 held to the supports by suitable fasteners 168. Such bars extend through slots 169 and 170 provided in magazine sides 112 and 113. The horizontally extending gate supports carry a vertically extending gate bar 172 which in turn carries a vertically extending gate 173 mounted for movement in a vertical channel in the gate bar which carries at its bottom a carbide gate foot 174. The gate bar 172 may be held to the horizontal supports 166 and 167 by suitable fasteneres indicated schematically at 175 in FIG. 5. The gate bar 173, as seen in FIG. 5, includes a horizontal projection 176 at its top which overlies the supporting gate bar 172. An adjustment screw 177 extends through the top flange 176 to provide a thickness adjustment for the E gate 173. A gate spring 178 surrounds stripper bolt or spring retainer 179 holding the same in proper position with the spring providing vertical pressure on the gate 173 to retain an E lamination in the gate provided between the lower edge of the gate 173 and the gate foot 174 until the E is pulled out by the hook 183 as hereinafter described. It can now be seen that the vertically adjustable gate 173 which cooperates with the gate foot 174 as seen in FIG. 3b also serves to support and confine the middle leg of the E lamination-s in the stack or magazine chambers 108 and 111. The support of the gate structure by the exterior vertical supports 164 and 165 and the bridging support bars 166 1 and 167 permits the magazine sides 112 and 113 to be adjusted laterally without affecting the gate structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a, 7 and 8, pivot blocks 180 and 181 are mounted on the upstanding portions of the brackets 160 and 161 and held thereto by suitable fasteners 182. Mounted on the pivot blocks 180 and 181 are alignment blocks 183 and 184 which may be held to the pivot blocks by suitable fasteners 185. Reference may be had to FIG. illustrating such pivot and alignment blocks in profile for the opposite side of the machine. The alignment blocks 183 and 184 extend over the tops of the forwardly extending legs 132 of the magazine sides 112 and 113.

The alignment blocks 183 on each side of the machine which are at the bottom of FIGS. 2a and 2b serve to support and align in parallelism I gate carrier 185 and E and I stop carrier 187. The alignment blocks 184 on the opposite or top side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 2a and 2b similarly extend over the top of the horizontal leg 132 of the magazine side 113 and serve to support I gate holders 188.

The I gate holders 186 and 18-8 supported in the alignment blocks 183 and 184, respectively, fit within channels 190 therein and are secured at the outermost ends of the alignment blocks by pivot pins 192 and 193. Vertically extending adjusting screws 194, 195 and 196 are mounted in the I gate holder 186, the E and I stop carrier 187, and the I gate holder 188, respectively, bearing against the inner ends of the channels Within the alignment blocks 183 and 184. Leaf springs 197 and 198 secured to the tops of the pivot blocks 180 and 181 engage the tops of the I stop holders 186 and 188, respectively, urging the holders downwardly about their proximal pivots 192 and 193 to maintain the adjustment screws 194 and 196 in adjusting engagement. Coil springs 199 surround the projecting ends of the pins 192 and engage the E and I stop carriers 187 also to provide spring pressure holding the carriers against the abutments for the adjusting screws 195.

The gate I gate holders 186 and 188 carry on their distal ends in elongated housings 201 and 202 longitudinally adjustable I gates 203 and 204. Such adjustment may be obtained by the screw and slot connection 205 with the aid of an index pin inserted in one of the three apertures 205. It can now be seen that the I gates 203 and 204 are longitudinally adjustable to accommodate different width I plates in the I magazines and they are vertically adjustable by means of the adjusting screws 194 and 196 so as to form a gate for the bottom I being pushed from under the stack allowing only one I punching or plate to escape from the magazine at a time regardless of the thickness thereof.

The carrier 187, which is similarly vertically adjustable by means of the adjusting screw 195, has at its distal end B and I stop 287' which is in the form of a permanent magnet. The magnet 297 is secured to a magnet bar back-up 208 by suitable fasteners 209 and the backup is in turn secured to the distal end of the arm 187 by the fastener shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

As seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 3b, the bottom of each E and I stop 207 is provided with a shoulder or hook 210 and a further shoulder or hook 211 nearer the leading end of the stop with an inclined lower surface 212 leading from substantially the hook 211 to the leading end of the stop. It will be understood that the I gates 203 and 204 as well as the E and I stops 207 are identical on each side of the machine or on opposite sides of the coil at the center thereof.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS; 8, 2a and 3a, the horizontal legs 132 of the magazine sides 112 and 113 are provided with finished surfaces 214 on which are adjustably mounted stack guide holders 215 and 216 supporting stack guides 217 and 218, respectively. The reclined L-shape configuration of these stack guides and pressure pads may be seen more clearly in FIG. 3a and slides 137 and 138.

these serve to align the laminations in the coil C, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3a, as the stack builds and to keep the incoming laminations held against the side guide There are, of course, four such guides, two each on each side of the coil. The stack guides 217 and 218 are pivotally connected by pins 219 and 220 to pivot links 221 and 222, respectively, which in turn are pivotally connected by pins 223 and 224 to the adjustable holders or carriages 215 and 216, respectively. Leaf springs 226 and 227, are secured at their proximal ends by spring retainer knobs 228 and 229 threaded into lateral projections of the holders 215 and 216. These springs overlie the pivot plates 221 and 222 and exert a spring pressure thereon and through the connecting pivot on the adjustable stack guides 217 and 218 so as resiliently to retain the incoming laminations. Pivoted at the rear of the stack guides 217 and 218 by pins 230 and 231 are I lamination retainers 232 and 233 which are free to pivot to the phantom line position 234 indicated in FIG. 3a as the stack of laminations builds up within the coil. The underside of the distal end of the retainers is provided with a shallow V-shape recess 235 permitting proper engagement of the underside of the distal end of the retainer with the uppermost loose I lamination to hold the same in place as the stack builds up. The holders 215 and 216 are adjustably mounted on the tops of the magazine side extensions by means of the screw and slot connections 236 illustrated at each end and adjustment index pins 237 fitting Within apertures 238 to facilitate the longitudinal adjustment of the holders so that the machine will accommodate E and I plates of different sizes and thus stacks of different size within the coil.

The stack guides and pressure pads 217 and 218 have inclined leading undersurfaces as indicated at 239 beneath which the laminati-ons are pushed and the pivotal mounting of and spring pressure on such pads will keep the incoming laminations held against the side guide slides.

As seen in FIGS. 2a, 3a and 4, the coil C in the center of the machine is supported by means of spring steel coil holders 240 and 241 which have curved tops as indicated at 242 which fit within the opening 243 within the coil C. The coil holders are held by suitable fasteners 244 to coil holder carriers 245 and 246 mounted on coil holder shafts 247 and 248, respectively. The shafts 247 and 248 are actuated by an upstanding handle 250 seen also in FIG. 6 which is mounted on a coil release actuator arm 251 which is keyed or secured to shaft 248. The actuator arm 251 is connected by pin 252 to further actuator arm 253 which is keyed or pin connected to the shaft 247. A slot connection may be provided in the arm 251 at the shaft 257 permitting the same to move upwardly without contacting the shaft. The coil holders 240 and 241 may thus be pivoted outwardly or apart by rotating the shafts 247 and 248 in counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively, by pivoting the handle 258 to the right as seen in FIG. 2a. The shafts 247 and 248 are, of course, journalled in block 254 adjacent the actuating arms 251 and 253. A spring 255 may be connected to the arm 251 resiliently holding the arm downwardly and thus the coil holders in a coil clamping position.

Mounted adjacent each of the coil holders 240 and 241 are E and I stop springs 260and 261 which serve to hold the E and I laminations against the inner faces of the stacking guides 217 and 218 on each side of the coil.

Laterally adjacent the coil there are also provided adjustable stacking guides 264 and 265 as seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 6 which include horizontal portions 266 and 267 which are adjusta-bly secured to the top of the base 18 by means ofthe screw and slot connections illustrated at 268 and 262 at each side of the stacking guide. Such adjustment may be facilitated by the index pins 270 used in conjunction with the apertures 271. Guide keys 273 and 274 mounted in keyways in-the base 18 may be employed to facilitate the lateral adjustment of the lateral stacking guides 264 and 265.

The upstanding portion of the stacking guides 264 and 265 includes upstanding stacking guide plates 276 and 277, the inner surfaces of which will engage and retain the built-up stack of plates within the coil. Just outside the guide plates are spring retainer plates 278 and 279, each of which carry a pair of spring plungers 280 and 281 as well as a centrally disposed stop screw 282. The spring plungers 280 and 281 in each of the spring retainer plates bear against stack latches 284 and 285 pivoted at 286 and 287, respectively, and have carbide tipped latching shelves 288 and 289, which project slightly beyond the inner surfaces of the guide plates 276 and 277. The spring plungers 280 and 281 urge the stack latches to their outermost positions wherein the upper portions of the latches will bear against the shoulders provided in the lower portions of the guide plates 276 and 277 limiting outward movement of the stack latches. The elongated edges 288 and 289 are provided with inclined lower surfaces which will cam the stack latches 284 and 285 rearwardly clear of the vertically moving incoming laminations to snap therebeneath and support the stack of E and I plates within the coil.

In order to lift the incoming laminations into the stack or coil, there is provided lamination lifters 290 and 291 which are held in place by retainer plates 292 and 293. The lamination lifters 290 and 291 project beneath the top of the base 18 through slot 294 and are mounted for vertical movement within the retainers 292 and 293.

Stop pins 295 and 296 are mounted in the lamination lifters with the outwardly projecting portions of such pins forming seats for the lower ends of compression springs 297 and 298 which urge the lamination lifters 290 and 291 downwardly.

Referring now to FIGS. 3a and 3b, vertical movement of the lamination lifters 290 and 291 is obtained by pairs of cam lift rollers 300 and 301 mounted in cam roll carriers 302 and 303 which are secured to the exterior of the carriage tie bars 52 and 53 (see also FIG. 5). The pairs of rollers 300 and 301 will engage the slightly rounded or lower cam surface 304 on the lower downwardly projecting ends of the lamination lifters 290 and 291. Thus as the carriage tie bar reciprocates back and forth beneath the machine base, the rollers 300 and 301 will engage the lamination lifters at the proper point in the cycle of the machine lifting the inserted lamination to place the same on the top of the shelves o-r latch tips 238 and 289 of the stack latches 284 and 235 clearing the lowermost portion of the coil stack for the next incoming pair of laminations and supporting the stack within the coil thereabove.

The slot 294 is provided with a center circular enlargement 306 in which is mounted a tubular wire guard 307 by means of angle ring 308 held to the bottom of the base 18 by suitable fasteners 309. Since the coil C will have wires projecting therefrom, the wires may be placed in the tube 307 to protect the same during the filling of the interior of the coil.

It will, of course, be understood that the entire coil holding mechanism including the wire guard may be mounted in an index carriage, either linear or circular, so that the coils may be automatically indexed to and from the lamination receiving position in the center of the machine rather than manually place-d as is the case with the illustrated embodiment.

Operating cycle A complete cycle of operation will now be described. The starting position of the cycle is illustrated in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 2a and 2b with the carriages 45 and 46 at the right side of the machine as shown. Power, supplied through the drive chain 12 and the sprocket 14 to the crank 19, transfers the rotary motion to linear motion through the connecting rod 21 and begins to move the carriages 45 and 46 to the left. The I lamination pickoif, indicated at 101, on the right hand carriage 46 moves up to the edge of the I stack in chamber 110 and the lowermost I in the stack drops into the recess in the top surface of the transfer pushers and is picked up by the pick-off 101 and moved to the left under the gates 203 and 204. Such gates are adjusted so that only one lamination may pass the-rebeneath. The I lamination carried to the left as seen in FIG. 3b passes the hook or shoulder 210 on the E and I stop 207. This brings the I lamination to the first transfer position.

The E pusher which is mounted at the rear or far right of the right hand carriage 46 has also moved to the left with the carriage 46. The E gate ramp 67 moves under the rear of the E stack in chamber 111 lifting the back of the E stack off its resting point 157 which ensures the bottom of the stack sliding up the ramp toward the pick-off point 66, even though laminations may be warped. When the point 66 contacts the rear of the stack at the point 310 as seen in FIG. 3b, the lowermost E lamination is pushed forward approximately of an inch into the gate formed by the gate foot 174 and the gate 173 which is the end of the stroke.

The top surface of the block 65 is gauged slightly less than a lamination thickness above the ramp 67 so that it can engage only one lamination. The E gate formed by the foot 174 and the gate slide 173 has also been preset by the adjustment mechanism indicated at the top of FIG. 5 so that only one-lamination may enter the gate. This innermost position of the stroke is shown on the opposite side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 3a. The ramp 67 in addition to providing the ramp to lift the E stack also privdes a back-up for the laminations being pushed into the gate as shown in FIG. 3a.

As the rotary motion of the crank continues, the carriage at the right side or as seen in FIG. 3b now starts to move toward the right allowing the lowermost E lamination which is held by the spring loaded gate in front to drop at the back until its outer edges rest on the surface of the side guide ramps 138. As the carriage continues to move lrearwardly, the back side of the E laminaition rides up on ramp and drops into the pocket 102 in the escapement plates 94 and 95. The hooks 103 then pick up the E lamination at the back of the slots the-rein pulling it out of the gate where it drops and lays flat on the top surface of the guide ramps 138. This then completes a right hand stroke as viewed in FIG. 3b.

The carriage now starts to reciprocate to the left again and the E lamination is canried along the topsurface of the side guides 138 by the E pusher 104. Simultaneously, the front end 98 of the transfer pusher picks up the I lamination which has been left at the hook or shoulder 210 and pushes it beneath the adjustable stack guide and pressure plates 216 and 217. This retains the I again-st vertical movement which would allow it to disengage the pusher surface 98.

On initially starting the unit, the first I lamination which goes in toward the coil by itself must be removed before inserting a coil for loading purposes. The coil is inserted by rocking the handle 250 to the right as seen in FIG. 2a separating the coil holders 240 and 241 and then placing the coil therebetween with the Wires extending into the wire guard 307. The handle 250 is then released and the holders 240 and 241 with the upper curved tips 242 projecting slightly into the coil aperture 243 will hold the coil firmly in position.

As the carriage 46 now moves toward the left as seen in FIG. 3b, the I plate pick-off 101 again picks off an I plate moving it beneath the I gates 203 and 204 along I guides 158 above the E lamination carried by the vertical pusher surface 104 of the .escapement plates 94 and 95 which is just beginning to go up the ramp 139 on the guides 138. As the carriage continue to move toward the left, the E lamination moves up the ramp until the back of the E plate clears the end of I guides 158 which is at the end of the carriage stroke.

In the meantime the I lamination has moved to the point 210 so that at this time the I lamination is laying on top of the E lamination which has been pulled up in a horizontal position because the front of the E leg has entered beneath the rear of pressure plate and stack guides 216 and 217 and because of the magnetic attraction of the E and I stop 2%7. At the end of this stroke, the E pusher block 65, shoulder 66, has pushed another E plate into the E gate formed between the foot 174 and the spring loaded slide 173 and as the cycle continues, the carriage again moves to the right pulling another E out of the gate and into position to be fed as above described.

As the carriage continues in its cycle and moves to the left again, the pusher surface 98 comes into contact with the E lamination and moves the E lamination carrying the I on top thereof towards the coil C at the center of the machine. The E lamination is pushed into position into the coil with the center leg being inserted through the coil aperture 243 and the outer legs straddling the coil on the opposite sides thereof. In this position, the inner slots on the E and the inner surface of the I contact spring members 261 on the right hand side of the coil C as seen in FIG. 3a compressing such spring members. By this time, the stack guide members 216 and 217 have closed down behind the E and I which have just been pushed into position. As the cycle continues, the pusher surface 98 moves toward the right allowing the springs 261 to push the E and I plates back against the vertical guide surface of the adjustable stack guides as indicated at 311 in FIG. 3a. Accordingly, the position of this vertical surface determines the final position of the plates Within the coil and also determines the exact size of the core thus being produced.

As the carriage continues to the right, it will again repeat its cycle and bring another E and I lamination from the left or magazine chambers 108 and 16 towards the coil. During this part of the cycle, cam rollers 3M and 391 engage the bottom of the lamination lifters 2% and 291 as seen in FIG. 6 which lift the E and I laminations upward past the edges 28?; and 289 of the stack latches 284 and 235. This lifting action pivots the latches outwardly against the pressure of the spring plungers 280 and 281 and raises the laminations until they are above the latch surface or shelf and the latches then snap beneath the E lamination supporting the same on the top of the ledges formed by the latching surfaces 288 and 239.

As the cam rollers 3M and 391 pass beyond the lower surfaces 3&4 of the lamination lifters, the lifters drop down because of the pressure of springs 297 and 298 so that the next incoming E and I laminations slide in beneath the E and I laminations which have been left on the latch ledges 288 and 289.

Cycling of the machine continues until the desired number of laminations has been obtained and this may be determined by a counter operated by switches in turn operated by the carriage strokes which will then stop the drive motor 6 and the loaded coil now having a core of E and I laminations is ready to lift out of the machine. This may be accomplished by moving the handle 2% to the right as seen in FIG. 2a which disengages the coil holders 246 and 241 from their holding position in the wound coil. Since the first E and I group put into the coil becomes the uppermost as the stack is built, the top I lamination is not held securely from movement as the result of machine vibration and the like. For this purpose, the I lamination retainers 233 which pivot upwardly to the phantom line positions 234 as the stack is built, rest on top of the I lamination and keep the same in position so that it cannot drop down into the working parts of the machine as the result of vibration.

It can now be seen that there is provided a machine which will automatically assemble in interleaved fashion the E and I plates into a coil in the production of electromagnetic induction apparatus. The machine will accommodate a greater number of parts and because of the gate and rearward removal mechanism at the bottom of the E plate stack, only one B plate at a time will be fed to the coil at the desired portion of the cycle. It must be kept in mind that the E plate, because of its configuration and size, is much more difiicult to feed than the I plate. Moreover, when the paired E end I plates are placed within the coil, they will be automatically aligned with the guide surfaces 311 of the stacking guides 217 and 218 by the springs 269 and 261. The paired laminations will also be verticallylifted to be supported on the shelves of the latches 288 and 289 by the cam rollers engaging the lamination lifters. In this manner, the core or interior of the coil may be completely filled thus avoiding a subsequent hand finishing or wedging operation. Further, it will be appreciated that the machine can easily be converted to fill coils of difierent sizes because of the many built-in adjustability features.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a stacking machine for plate cores of electromagnetic induction apparatus and the like, a magazine for a stack of plates, a reciprocatory carriage extending beneath said magazine, a releasable plate. retainer gate means adjacent the bottom of said magazine, means on said carriage operative to drive the lowermost plate in said magazine into said releasable plate retainer gate means on a forward stroke of said carriage, and means on said carriage operative to remove said plate from said releasable plate retainer gate means and from said magazine on the return stroke of said carriage.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a rear- Wardly positioned plate pusher shoulder mounted on said carriage operative to drive the lowermost plate into said releasable plate retainer gate means, and an inclined ramp leading up to said pusher shoulder.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 including a forwardly positioned escapement mounted on said carriage operative to engage such plate within said releasable plate retainer gate means and pull the same therefrom on the return stroke of said carriage.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said re leasable plate retainer gate means has a resiliently restricted opening, and the maximum extent of such opening is vertically adjustable to accommodate plates of different thickness.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releasable plate retainer gate means includes a vertically adjustable top member cooperating with a fixed foot.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magazine includes laterally adjustable side walls to accommodate plates of different width, and support means for said releasable plate retainer gate means extending through said walls whereby said walls may be adjusted without affecting the position of said releasable plate retainer gate means.

7. In a stacking machine for plate cores of electromagnetic induction apparatus and the like, a first magazine for a stack of plates, 21 second magazine for a stack of plates, at re-ciprocatory carriage extending beneath said magazines, a vertically extending gate cooperating with a fixed :foot adjacent the bottom of said first magazine to form a releasable plate retainer, means on said carriage operative to drive the lowermost plate in said first magazine into said retainer on a forward stroke of said carriage, hook means on said carriage operative to pull said plate from said retainer on the return stroke thereof, and means on said carriage operative to push said released plate beneath said second magazine on the next forward stroke thereof.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said gate is vertically adjustable to accommodate plates in said first magazine of varying thickness, and vertically adjustable gate means for said second magazine likewise operative to permit plates of varying thickness to be fed therefrom.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hook means on said carriage operative to pull said plate from the retainer comprises an escapement mechanism including a hook-like projection operative to engage the plate and pull the same from the retainer.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said escapement includes a recess having said hook-like projection on the forward side thereof and a plate pusher surface on the rear side thereof, the latter being operative to push said plate beneath said second magazine on the next forward stroke of the carriage.

11. In a stacking machine for plate cores of electro magnetic induction apparatus and the like, a first magazine for a stack of plates, at second magazine for a stack of plates, a reciprocatory carriage extending beneath said magazines operative to remove the lowermost plate from said first and second magazines, said carriage comprising at one end a pusher mechanism operative to engage the lowermost plate in said first magazine to shift the position thereof, and a transfer pusher operative to engage the lowermost plate in said second magazine operative to remove the same therefrom, said transfer pusher including an escapement mechanism operative to engage the lowermost plate in said first magazine and pull the same therefrom.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said escapement mechanism includes a pusher surface o-perative to push the lowermost plate in said first magazine beneath said second magazine to be paired with the lowermost plate in said second magazine.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 including a coil holder positioned with said second magazine between said coil holder and said first magazine, a plate stop mechanism positioned between said second magazine and said coil holder operative to retain such paired plates to be engaged by said transfer pusher and placed within the coil held by such holder.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 13 including inclined ramp means operative to guide the lowermost plate from said first magazine beneath said second magazine to said stop mechanism.

15. A machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said stop mechanism includes a permanent magnet operative to hold such plates in substantially flat paired relation.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 15 including a stack guide and pressure pad mechanism between said coil holder and said stop mechanism operative to guide such paired plates .into the coil held by said coil holder and to align such plates therein.

17. In a stacking machine for plate cores of electromagnetic induction apparatus and the like, a first magazine for a stack of plates, a second magazine for a stack of plates, a coil holder operative to hold a coil to be filled by such plates positioned with said second magazine between said first magazine and said coil holder, at reciprocatory carriage extending beneath said magazines operative to assemble plates from said first and second magazines and place the same in the coil held by said coil holder, stacking guides adjacent said coil holder, and spring means mounted on said coil holder operative resiliently to hold said plates against said guides when placed within such coil.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein said coil holder includes leaf spring means mounted on a pair of shafts extending transversely of the path of said carriage, and a coil holder operator to contrarotate said shafts to engage and release a coil within said holder.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 including plate lifters operative to elevate said plates when placed within such coil, and means responsive to the reciprocation of said carriage operative to actuate said lifters.

20. The machine as set forth in claim 19 including spring loaded latch members operative to engage beneath said plates when lifted and support the same in such coil, said lifters building up a stack of such plates during the operation of the machine within such coil.

21. The machine as set forth in claim 2%) wherein said spring loaded latch members are mounted in adjustable stacking guides operative to confine a stack of such plates within such coil.

22. In a stacking machine for plate cores of electromagnetic induction apparatus and the like, a coil holder operative to hold a coil having an opening therein, means horizontally to position a core plate in the bottom of such opening, means vertically to lift such plate after thus positioned, and cam latch means operative to snap beneath such plate when lifted to support such plate, and means to repeat the above cycle to build a stack of plates with such core.

23. A machine as set forth in claim 22 wherein such plates are lifted a distance at least equal to the thickness of such plate to be supported by said cam latch substantially contiguous to the horizontally incoming plate.

24. A machine as set forth in claim 22 including a horizon-tally reciprocable carriage operative to position the core plates in the bottom of such opening, and vertically movable plate lifters operative to engage and lift such plates in response to horizontal movement of said carriage.

25. A machine as set forth in claim 24 wherein such plate comprises an E plate with the central leg thereof being inserted into the opening in such coil, and an I plate on top of such E plate, and a pivotally mounted 1 plate retainer operative to engage such I plate as such stack is being built.

26. A machine as set forth in claim 24 including a carriage on each side of said coil holder operative to position such core plates from each side of such coil, a tie bar interconnecting said carriages, and means on said tie bar operative to engage said plate lifters.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,026 5/1958 Saari 29203 2,842,838 7/1958 Macchione 29203 3,118,218 1/1964 Gleason et al 29208 3,136,043 6/ 1964 Ruellan 29--203 JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. IN A STACKING MACHINE FOR PLATE CORES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION APPARATUS AND THE LIKE, A MAGAZINE FOR A STACK OF PLATES, A RECIRPOCATORY CARRIAGE EXTENDING BENEATH SAID MAGAZINE, A RELEASABLE PLATE RETAINER GATE MEANS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID MAGAZINE, MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE OPERATIVE TO DRIVE THE LOWERMOST PLATE IN SAID MAGAZINE INTO SAID RELEASABLE PLATE RETAINER GATE MEANS ON A FORWARD STROKE OF SAID CARRIAGE, AND MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE OPERATIVE TO REMOVE SAID PLATE FROM SAID RELEASABLE PLATE RETAINER GATE MEANS AND FROM SAID MAGAZINE ON THE RETURN STROKE OF SAID CARRIAGE. 